Protective covering for mouthpieces



Sept. 18, 1934. L* PRlCE 1,973,883

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR MOUTHPIECES Filed Sept. l2. 1930 )f7/7,221 1 a Z ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES Partnr' ori-ica 1,973,883 PROTECTIVE covERING Fon MoUTnPIEcEs Lincoln C. Price, Flushing, N.

Du Pont Cellophane Company,

Y., assigner to Inc., New York,

This invention .relates to the marketing of articles having mouth pieces, such as musical instruments, pipes, cigar and cigarette holders and the like, and is primarily concerned with protecting said mouth pieces from contamination and insuring the ultimate user in obtaining such articles in a substantially sanitary and clean condition.

In the marketing of objects which are intended for personal use, as in the mouth, there is a tendency on the part of some of the purchasing public to place the mouth piece thereof in the mouth prior to the purchase thereof.V

For example, in the purchase of a pipe the prospective purchaser has a tendency to placethe stem thereof in the mouth to determine its balance, Weight, length, shape, and general suitability. Likewise in the case of musical instruments, such as horns, bugles, reeds, etc., there is a tendency to place the mouth piece in the mouth and to sound the instrument to determine its tone qualities, etc.

Desirable as these procedures may be in ascertaining the possibility of making the proposed purchase, the prospective purchaser subjects himslf to the possibilities of contamination and disease from bacteria and other sources as a result-of prior trials by other prior prospective purchasers. In the event he decides not to purchase the object he, in turn, may possibly subject a subsequent purchaser to a similar or additional contamination. 'I'here is a concerted effort therefore, on the part of health authorities, progressive merchants, and fastidious customers to market these objects or protect them so that the ultimate consumer may be assured that the object is in a substantially sanitary state.

I have found that by providing such articles, and particularly that portion thereof which is placed in the mouth, with a protective covering, such as a cap or band, preferably consisting `of regenerated cellulose produced from a cellulosic solution, such as viscose, the possibility of contamination is very materially reduced and the purchaser is assured of receiving an article having a mouth piece which is in a more sanitary condition than has been hitherto obtainable.

Itis therefore an object of this invention to provide mouth pieces of various articles, such as musical instruments, pipes, cigar and cigarette holders and the like,'with a protective covering of cellulosic material to retain and maintain said mouth pieces in a substantially sanitary condition and reduce the possibility of contamination thereof by bacteria or other sources.

Another object of this invention is to provide mouth pieces of articles of the type hereinbefore mentioned with protective coverings, such as caps or bands, shrunk in. position.

A specic object of this invention is to provide protective coverings on mouth pieces of articles of the type previously mentioned by shrinking in place a cap or band of regenerated cellulose applied to said mouth pieces while -said cap or 65 band is in a gel state.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, illustrating sevi@ eral specific embodiments of the invention and in which:

Figure l illustrates a pipe stem Wrapped with a tape or ribbon of regenerated cellulose;

Figure 2 illustrates a longitudinal section of a t5 cellulosic cap in gel form; y

Figure 3 illustrates a` cap applied to a pipe stem;

Figure 4 illustrates a longitudinal section of a. cellulosic band in gel form; and

Figure 5 illustrates a band applied to a pipe stem.

According to this invention, mouth pieces of musical instruments, pipe stems, cigar and cigarette holders and other similar objects are 8S provided with protective coverings, whereby said mouth pieces are retained in a clean and sanitary condition. y

Cellulosic material, such as cellulose, regenerated from cellulose solutions, such as viscose and the like, is sufficiently strong and tough to withstand and resist shop wear and handling.

In addition to this necessary characteristic, this material is transparent, smooth and not easily soiled bydirt, grease, oil or the like.. By virtue of these characteristics and properties, I have found that this material is admirably suited for the purposes of this invention.

In one of its modifications this invention contemplates wrapping a tape or ribbon of cellulosic material, such as regenerated cellulose, around mouth pieces of articles. According to this phase of the invention, a piece of regenerated cellulose of any suitable size is wrapped around the mouth piece to be protected, as for example, a pipe stem l. It is obvious that the wrapping may be eifected4 in various manners and Figure 1 illustrates one specific exemplincation thereof. The wrapper illustrated in this gure (1) is produced by spirally a tape 110 or'ribbon 2 around the stem with the successive convolutions overlapping. The free end 3.

of the wrapping may be positively secured by any convenient means. If desired a preformed tube of dried regenerated cellulose may be disposed on the mouth piece.

A number of articles have mouth pieces of irregular contour and it is very dicult to procose, by any of the Well-known casting or molding methods. These materials, after coagulation and regeneration and while in the moist or gel condition, in which state they are supplied to the trade, are disposed on the .mouth pieces to be protected. Upon drying under atmospheric or ordinary condition, the cap shrinks and results in a close snug-fitting protective covering. It is obvious that the cap and particularly the tubular portion thereof may be of any length as desired. It may be so short that it just covers the end of the mouth piece or it may be sufficiently long so that it covers a substantial portion of the stem. Figure 3 illustrates a pipe stem 1 provided with the cap 4 shrunk in position.

yInsteadpf employing a cap as immediately ,beforeidescribed a band 'l consisting of a tube of regenerated cellulose open at both endsvmay be used. The band 'l is also applied in the gel state similarly to the cap 4. It is slipped over the mouth piece so that a portion of the band projects beyond said mouth piece and is then dried. Upon drying, the band shrinks and conforms to the shape .of the stem on which it is disposed and the overhangin'g portion forms a substantially complete closure as shown. As in the case of the caps, the bands may be of any size depending on the length of the mouth piece to be protected. Figure 5 illustrates this phase of the invention as applied to pipe stems.

Caps and bands applied and dried as above described conform to the contour of the mouth piece no matter how irregular. They are smooth, not easily soiled by dirt, grease, oil or the like, and are sufficiently strong and tough to resist shop wear. Due to the transparency of the caps and bands, the mouth pieces are visible as well as protected. It is obvious, of course, that the coverings may be opaque, colored, printed, decorated, etc. to distinguish, for example, different grades of merchandise.

The coverings may be removed by the ultimate consumer by cutting with a knife or they may be loosened by immersion in water, whereby the coverings may be readily removed by the fingers. If desired, the cap 4 and the band 'I may each be provided with means, such as projecting tab 8, which is adapted to be gripped and pulled by the user in the removal thereof.

Still another mode of removing the covering, and particularly4 the caps and bands, consists in using a rip string 9 in combination therewith. When a rip string is employed it is positioned on the mouth piece prior to the application of the covering.

From the above it is apparent that I have provided a mode of marketing articles having mouth pieces which are destined to reach the user in sanitary condition in addition to enhancing the appearance of the article. If, perchance, a prospective customer should inadvertently place the mouth piece in his mouth, the protective covering and particularly in the case of the caps and bands, may be removed and replaced by a new one. It is apparent from the foregoing description that such a procedure is easy and simple and requires no great effort. In this way every customer can be assured that the mouth piece of the article is absolutely sanitary irrespective of the length of time it has been in stock andregardless of the number of customers handling and examining it. It is to be noted that the protective covering is seamless, and when in position it very closely approximates the true shape of the mouth piece.

Though the invention has been specifically described in connection with regenerated cellulose, it is not restricted thereto, since it is apparentA that equally successful results may be 'secured with caps or bands made of any material or composition which has the characteristic of shrinking during drying,.as for instance, cellulose acetate.

Since it is obvious that various changes may be made in the specic details Y hereinbefore described without departing -from the spirit of the inventionfthe invention is not restricted thereto except as defined in the appended claims.

i I Claim:

1. A mouth piece having a protective covering consisting of a b and shrunk in position and intimately .conforming to the shape and contour of said mouth piece.

2. A mouth piece having a protective covering consisting of a band of regenerated vcellulose and intimately conforming to the shape and contour of said mouth piece.

3. A mouth piece having a protective covering consisting of a band of regenerated cellulose shrunk in position and intimately conforming to the shape and contour of said mouth piece.

LINCOLN C. PRICE. 

